On Sunday at Beijing, in the final of the China Open,
the 2015 Wimbledon finalist (and the 2014 champion at Hobart, Tasmania), 21 year old 5th seeded #8 (career high: #8) Garbine Muguruza from Barcelona, Spain,
defeated
the 2015 champion at Monterrey and Acapulco, 26 year old 12th seeded #15 (career high: #13) Timea Bacsinszky from Belmont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland,
7-5, 6-4 (photo shown).

Garbine's prize is $973,505; Timea's prize is $487,161.

Garbine will move to a career-high #4 in Monday's WTA singles rankings; Timea will also be ranked in the top 10 for the first time in her career.

Garbine said: "I want to congratulate Timea of course. Top 10 is an amazing achievement. For me, to be able to come and win the tournament after losing in the finals of Wuhan last week is a great achievement. It's amazing, and I can't wait to come back and defend my title next year." WTA story

Garbi now leads Timea 2-0 in career matches. Their previous meeting was earlier this year on a chlorophyll court in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, when Garbine defeated Timea 7-5, 6-3.

Garbine is now 2-3 in WTA singles finals. Her singles match record in 2015 is 38-18. Timea is now 3-3 in WTA singles finals; she has a 41-13 singles match record this season.

2009 was the first year that the China Open was held at the National Tennis Center, which was built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The National Tennis Center (formerly known as the Beijing 2008 Olympic Green Tennis Courts) is located at the northwest corner of the primary 2008 Olympics venue, on the south side of Beijing's 5th ring road. The address is No. 2 Lin Cui Road, in the Chao Yang section of Beijing.

2014: On Sunday, September 28, Jelena Jankovic did the autograph thing in Beijing...on Monday, young ladies at the player's party included Caroline Wozniacki, Agnieszka Radwanska and Serena Williams...

Simona said: "I have pain in my Achilles. It's getting worse. I thought that it was getting better and I could play, but no. I don't want to force it. And it's a tough injury because it's always dangerous to continue with the tendon, so, I hope to just recover and be healthy again soon. I felt it a little bit in Guangzhou, a little bit in Wuhan, and here was the worst." WTA story

*n22 Sara Errani ITA d n4 s2 Petra Kvitova CZE 7-5, 6-4 Sun

Sara about to lightly tap a forehand

Sara said: "I had never beaten her, and she's a really good player, so I'm happy I could finally win in a big tournament like this one. It was just a few points that made the difference. I just tried to stay there every point and stay solid without too many mistakes. That's my game, anyway." WTA story

Petra said: "It was the kind of game where I had to really be ready physically and mentally, and I just wasn't today."

Genie said: "I thought I was physically ready but unfortunately the symptoms of my concussion came back. I want to thank all my fans at the China Open for their support. I hope to get well soon and look forward to returning next year." WTA story

Andrea said: "I just asked [Genie] what happened, and she told me that she felt very dizzy. Then I asked if it was the same, if it was still the concussion. She said it tends to come back when she gets physically very active. I feel it's really bad luck because I thought she was playing so well again and I hope she gets better and keeps up her good play."

Ana said: "I was very pleased overall, not only with the forehand but just with my game. I've been working really, really hard. Since Wimbledon, when I put the team in place, there have been some little changes here and there, but I feel like we've been working really hard. I knew it was coming, but it was just a matter of time putting it all together. And the last few days I've been doing it really well on the practice courts. I'm happy to transfer it into today's match. It was an important match for me - it was a good one to win." WTA story

Venus said: "It was obviously a tough draw. I've had a good advantage in our series, but just maybe not my best tennis today. I had a hard time kind of controlling the ball. I felt like it was flying."

Caro said: "[Qiang] started off playing pretty well. But I kind of stood a little too far back behind the baseline and let her play her game. Once I started stepping in a little bit and took the ball a little earlier, I felt like I was more in control and I started to play better." WTA story

Agnieszka said: "I think I was doing everything right today. I was handling all the tough conditions well. I started pretty well, too. Just a few games slipped away in that second set, but I was still playing my tennis anyway." WTA story

n9 s6 Ana Ivanovic SRB d n32 A Pavlyuchenkova RUS 6-3, 7-5

Ana driving a forehand

Ana said: "Of course to be again in a semifinal is great. It's been a little bit of struggle, but now I feel I have my game back. I just enjoy competing again because I feel I can put out everything physically, as well." WTA story

Garbine said: "I know Aga is an amazing player, so I knew I had to be concentrated and focused all the time against her, and try to be more ready in the important moments, which was my goal. I'm extremely happy to be in the final. I'm really going to try and get the trophy." WTA story

*n15 s12 Timea Bacsinszky SUI d n9 s6 Ana Ivanovic SRB 5-7, 6-4, 6-1

Timea driving a forehand

Timea said: "I just tried to focus on my game plan and not look further. I was only thinking about the next ball, the next point, not what was going to happen after that." WTA story

The loss elmininated Ana from contention for a place in the WTA Finals at Singapore.

Ana said: "I was really enjoying the competition here in Beijing, and I played some great tennis to get into this position. So it was very frustrating for me today."